Durg/Bhilai: Police in Chhattisgarh’s Durg district have uncovered a major case of illegal opium cultivation. Authorities uprooted and seized a large opium crop allegedly grown on farmland linked to BJP leader Vinayak Tamrakar in the villages of Samoda and Jhenjhri. The crop was spread over about 5 acres and 62 decimals of land.
According to officials, nearly 62,000 kilograms of opium plants were removed from the field. The estimated value of the seized crop is around ₹7.88 crore. The uprooted plants were loaded into four tractors and transported to a secure location.
The operation was carried out in the Jevra Sirsa police outpost area. Police said the entire crop has been uprooted and will be destroyed after obtaining approval from the Environment Department. The destruction will take place in the presence of an authorized administrative panel.
Investigators also discovered that special security arrangements had been made to protect the field. Electric wires were connected near the gate of the fencing on the side of the Shivnath River to prevent outsiders from entering the farmland. In addition, bouncers were reportedly deployed outside the field for security.
Police first conducted a raid on March 6 and began the operation. Over the next four days, teams worked continuously to remove the crop. By March 10, all the opium plants had been uprooted and packed into sacks before being transported to a secure location.
Initially, police personnel were deployed to manually destroy the plants. However, due to the large quantity of the crop, bulldozers were later used to speed up the process. Workers under the MGNREGA scheme were also engaged in the operation to assist in removing the plants.
In connection with the case, police have arrested three accused, including BJP leader Vinayak Tamrakar. Two other suspects are currently absconding. Authorities said tracing their location has been difficult as their mobile phones are switched off, but efforts are underway to arrest them soon.
Meanwhile, police also conducted a raid at the residence and warehouse of another accused, Vikas Bishnoi. During the search, officers seized 10 grams of opium, 200 grams of poppy seeds, opium seeds, a cutting tool used for extracting opium, seven sacks of poppy husk, a tractor and a JCB machine. Police believe these items were being used in illegal opium cultivation and related activities.
The investigation further revealed that the land where the opium was cultivated is registered in the names of Preetibala and Madhumati Tamrakar, who are reportedly sisters of Vinayak Tamrakar. Police have recorded their statements as part of the investigation.
Both women denied having any knowledge about the illegal cultivation. They stated that Vinayak Tamrakar did not allow them to enter the field. The police are continuing their investigation and searching for the remaining absconding suspects.
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